Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
Saul plans to chase down some of the Jesus’ followers who have fled the city of Jerusalem. With special permission from the authorities, he sets off for the city of Damascus to bring them back.
On the road, Saul is blinded by a light from heaven. The voice he hears is Jesus’. One can only imagine the shock he must have felt since he honestly thought persecuting Christians was God’s work.
Now, literally and figuratively, he sees the light!
Of all the evidences for the resurrection of Jesus, Saul’s conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a follower of Jesus is one of the most dramatic.
How can one possibly explain this about face in the life of Saul?
Saul’s turn to Jesus might be suspect if he had something to gain by switching sides. However, he will suffer the loss of everything he’s worked for up to this point in his life. This is not something one does unless there is a convincing reason to do so.
Now Saul will become a serious student of Jesus. He will be given a special assignment - This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
Not only will Saul lose the position in Judaism for which his education has prepared him. He will suffer for Jesus - I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.
The persecutor will become the persecuted!
What is the explanation for Saul’s change of heart? A life dedicated to carrying the message of Jesus?
He met the resurrected Jesus!
Now he will become a tireless missionary, write half of the books of the New Testament and be enshrined in memory as one of the greatest students of Jesus who ever lived.
Now he will become a tireless missionary, write half of the books of the New Testament and be enshrined in memory as one of the greatest students of Jesus who ever lived.
God's power demonstrated in a changed life.
ReplyDeleteWe see this in Paul's "about face".
The question is...When others look at our lives do they see this same power? God's power will be evident if we are truly following Jesus.
I had never thought about Paul's conversion as an "evidence" before - but upon reading and reflecting, it seems to make a very powerful story even more powerful. Thanks for pointing that out!
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